Girls aged 12 and 13 have been given the vaccine since 2008 in an attempt to bring down cervical cancer rates.

But boys have not been given any protection despite calls from charities, they say.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has said a decision to extend the programme would have brought the UK in line with 11 other countries who currently offer universal HPV vaccinations.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive RSPH, said: ‘We are deeply disappointed by the JCVI’s decision today, which suggests that fundamental priorities are focused more on saving money than on saving lives.

‘Such a simple vaccination programme has the potential to make such a big impact on the public’s health on a national scale.

‘We hope that the Government’s advisory committee reconsider this decision as soon as possible and put the public’s health and wellbeing before cost-saving.

Campaigners and charities are outraged at the advice (Picture: Getty)

‘This process has already dragged on for a considerable period, and every moment we delay lives continue to be unnecessarily put at risk.’

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Peter Baker, HPV Action Campaign Director, said: ‘It is astonishing that the Government’s vaccination advisory committee has ignored advice from patient organisations, doctors treating men with HPV-related cancers, public health experts and those whose lives have been devastated by HPV.